Explained: Why this January is feeling extra hot

A young girl fetches underground water from a dry riverbed along River Katalwa in Mwingi. January 2026 has been unusually hot across Kenya, with temperatures soaring above normal. [File, Standard]

January 2026 has been unusually hot across Kenya, leaving many Kenyans questioning whether the country is experiencing a heat wave or its normal hot season.

The numbers confirm the unusual heat. On January 4, Nairobi hit 37.3 degrees Celsius, the hottest day the city has ever recorded for this month. Temperatures across Kenya have climbed more than two degrees above normal.